Syllabus for
GEO 589 Research for Earth Science Teachers

Course DescriptionThis course is intended to provide Earth Science teachers
or graduate students in Earth Science Education an opportunity to obtain
research experience. A written research
report and/or a science walk or drive is required.

What is research?

According to Websters New World Dictionary Research is:
Careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles. A requirement of research is that the results be made available
to others.

You may do the research with any faculty member in Astronomy, Atmospheric
Sciences or Geology. You will need to get permission from Gil Hanson before
starting the research.

How Will the Results Be Reported?

Due to the potentially diverse nature of the projects,
the type of information in each research report may be quite different. In general
each report should include

An abstract of about 200 words that simply states the
reason for the project and summarizes the results

A comprehensive introduction that explains the reason
for the project, reviews similar efforts described in the literature, gives
the scientific basis for the project and the reason why the project was
done way it was.

A body that describes in some detail what you did. Include
a discussion of the research tools or methods used that were new to you.

Each student will select an independent research project
in consultation with me. We will emphasize surveys, field trips and self-guided
science walks. The reason is to better understand the geology of an area.
This requires a geological survey using topographic maps, air photos, field
observations and published geological information. With this information
you can develop field trips and self-guided science walks. These will increase
the interest of both the teachers and students in their natural surroundings.
They will also show how the Earth Sciences relate to biology, chemistry
and physics. You are encouraged to do this research near the school where
you are teaching. If you are not yet a teacher, you are encouraged to develop
a range of field trips and science walks on the Stony Brook campus. These will be
prototypes for similar efforts that can be made near your school.

You may also choose to develop new research projects
for earth science students. Such projects should allow students to make
their own observations and to collect their own data locally, that is,
near school or home.